Forces Of Obvious Luck

28/04/2022

Tonight, we raise money on-air for the KRBX, Radio Boise - 89.9/93.5 FM tribe!

Our region's only non-profit and free-form station, it's truly a people-powered beacon. With dynamically curated mixtapes from 70 different local, weekly shows, it's your trailhead of discovery, but also the guidepost when you get lost in the music.

Come on a quest with Forces Of Obvious Luck from 9 - 11 PM MT each Thursday. Or connect and give now to help turn up the volume: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/boise-community-radio-project/spring-radiothon-2022

06/04/2022

Hugh Downs has been down since the beginning.

04/04/2022

Welcome back! This week's show on KRBX, Radio Boise - 89.9/93.5 FM was super, dope, def and even outrageous w/ tracks from Caleborate, Denzel Curry, MF DOOM, Jurassic 5, Sa-Roc, The Gift of Gab, Lyrics Born and beyond. Enjoy:
https://www.mixcloud.com/ForcesOfObviousLuck/2022-03-31-forces-of-obvious-luck-krbx-radio-boise-282/

March 31, 2022 edition of Forces Of Obvious Luck - live from KRBX Radio Boise. Honorable Hip-Hop featuring Caleborate, Denzel Curry, MF DOOM, Jurassic 5, Sa-Roc, The Gift of Gab and beyond. Tune in every Thursday from 9:00 - 11:00 PM MT live worldwide at https://radioboise.org. Tracklisting is below...

09/01/2022

ICYMI - Listen to this week's radio show for the Top Ten Albums of 2021 countdown extravaganza!

https://www.mixcloud.com/ForcesOfObviousLuck/2022-01-06-forces-of-obvious-luck-krbx-radio-boise-271/

07/01/2022

...and now, the #1 Hip-Hop release of 2021:

Sidewalk Chalk x Sam Trump - Sun-Filled Sky
The seven-piece Chicago ensemble snuck out of the shade for a mid-summer single. A cleansing and purifying wash of guitar strums and divine organ rolls, this infectious embrace personified a nod and a smile (with a stomach full of butterflies) for one joyful stretch towards the heavens. If you ever need a solstice-style pick me up, rotate around "Sun-Filled Sky". 🌞

06/01/2022

Nearing the apex of the 2021 Top Ten Albums countdown:

#2 Raw Poetic - Big Tiny Planet
A man with such prolific habits and creative forces shouldn't be allowed to operate on this level. Yet... Raw Poetic keeps on expanding his spacy range. With co-pilot Damu the Fudgemunk riding shotgun, Raw Poetic blasted off for a World music influenced EP that radiated Cosmic Prog-Soul. Is that even a real genre? Well, 'Big Tiny Planet' made it a viable vibe in 2021 as Raw Poetic exhumed powerfully positive poetry that fit tautly within any given melody.

05/01/2022

Reaching higher on the Top Ten Hip-Hop Albums of 2021 list:

#3 Damu the Fudgemunk - Conversation Peace (Def Pressé)
With an invite to delve into the KPM Musichouse archives - a UK-based production library with 30,000+ releases that dates back to 1830(!) - Damu the Fudgemunk came away with a new world of sound to recraft. Nothing new for this F.O.O.L. year end list stalwart though. But on this go-around, his trademark journeys felt less methodical and more free. Did the DC MPC master abandon his road map for sake of moving forward while upholding a sense of heritage? Hard to guess, but easy to lose yourself in his stacked soundscape layers.

A select squad of guest emcees helped vocalize the album's vision and realize its destination. Enlisting frequent collaborators Insight, Blu and Raw Poetic while also linking up with Nitty Scott for the first time, Damu's friends narrated the excursion with flourishes to match his percussive flare. Never one to go on cruise control, Damu again arranged a lucid trip.

05/01/2022

Next on the Top Ten Albums of 2021 countdown:

#4 Little Simz - Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
Heralded by theatrical fanfare, London emcee and actor Little Simz stepped out unapologetically herself on 'Sometimes I Might Be Introvert'. An acronym for her first name [Simbi] and a statement of intent, Simz connected with a lot of individuals thanks to her compelling expressions, baring her deepest inner emotions. A born empath and quiet leader with loud tendencies to inspire, she turned her personal and family stories into an empowering march that others can use as a beacon to overcome.

Balancing anxiety and despair with joy and hope while musically embracing her Nigerian and West African roots (thanks to album producer Inflo, best known for his work with the mysterious Soul dynamo SAULT), Simz boldly proclaimed, "Honesty is in my bones, I can't do the fake."

05/01/2022

Entering rarified air on the FOOLish Top Ten Albums of 2021 list:

#5 Aesop Rock x The Real Blockhead - Garbology
How can I be more complementary than those who've verbosely sang Aesop Rock's praises over 25 years? I can't, so I'll let the man himself share a couplet from his latest album:

"You laughing because I'm different, I'm laughing 'cause you the same.
I been discovering a distant corner of the human brain."

Yep, that's a glimpse into Aesop with two bars. Bond that unworldly wordsmith wizard with the mystical beat composer known as Blockhead and you have 'Garbology'. When Aesop's fumbled a few artful attempts to pick up the pieces after a friend's death, he called on a longtime friend and old time collaborator to reunite.

Blockhead provided full circle closure with coincidental nods to his work on Aesop's 2000 full-length debut 'Float'. Just more syrupy, refined and mature. While the two-decades apart projects both gave Aesop a shelter to fashion and unload his ricocheting philosophies, 'Garbology' was a more contemplative, third eye escape from a storm. Calmed by Blockhead's fluttering soundscapes, the sometimes over-it-all emcee sociologically pondered looking outward and posed questions he answered inwardly on last year's phenomenal 'Spirit World Field Guide' solo release [my #1 album of 2020].

04/01/2022

The FOOL Top Ten Albums of 2021 is heating up:

#6 Afro Cluster -The Reach
Pressure and release. Tension and relief. A controlled frenzy strategically swelling to an intended zenith. This was my first impression of Afro Cluster. And I wanted another burst! A nine-piece Welsh Afro Funk / Hip-Hop band with a colossally stout sound, their tight arrangements cleverly left room to take a breath or two. All members got chances to step out and strut but the natural frontman, emcee Skunkadelic, commanded the album. His honest and down-to-earth, dry sarcasm mixed masterfully with the rhythm section and call-response interplay of the horns.

Some compositions veered towards being too buttoned up given the raw lyrical subject matter and skilled players, but that reserved nature built to several crescendo payoffs, including for the album's ultimate message and final track, "Young Shall Grow".

03/01/2022

The FOOL Top Ten Albums of 2021 list continues:

#7 Skyzoo's All the Brilliant Things
Skyzoo is Brooklyn's ongoing orator: a blunt, yet very reliable, firsthand witness to his communities. With roots proudly planted in the Soul and Jazz that built Hip-Hop's foundational sound, he dropped listeners in the middle of a familiar place with a new perspective on this, his tenth full-length LP. The sample work is excellent; the snappy percussion and bright brass notes helped authenticate the recontextualizations. Aaria's airy background vocals throughout also added to the nostalgic summer flavor. With a running refrain to reprise the album's theme of change, Skyzoo sowed densely packed and impressively stacked rhymes that looked back but stressed moving forward without lament. Ambitious without being too conceptual. Truly brilliant!

02/01/2022

Across 51 weekly KRBX, Radio Boise - 89.9/93.5 FM shows in 2021, FOOL played 1,117 unique songs by 899 artists from [a new record] 29 countries!

(Back to the Top Ten Albums of the Year countdown tonight.)

30/12/2021

Checking in next on the FOOL Top Ten Albums of 2021:

#8 KOTA The Friend & Statik Selektah's To Kill a Sunrise

Sometimes music is easy to timestamp; artists paint themselves into one fleeting moment with lyrical references that won't mean much down the road or trendy beats that'll lack replay value. KOTA the Friend doesn't clock into either realm. Even with an almanac, it's hard to place 'To Kill a Sunrise' on the calendar. Calling an album 'timeless' the year it was released is beyond cliché, but this DYI BK, multi-track multi-tasker has the poetic spirit and refined palette to age gracefully and confidently. Statik Selektah's Midas touch of Jazz doesn't hurt either. The chemistry was instant and really highlighted KOTA's vocals. Through relatable personal topics, KOTA's syncopated flow is easy to digest but the complex nature of his narratives - even within a simple delivery - will keep listeners engaged. He touched on more than enough rough patches, but this album's mood is so smooth and peaceful that you can't help but know KOTA found solace within this timeframe.

29/12/2021

Back in the swing with the FOOL Top Ten Albums of 2021 countdown:

#9 David Begun's The PharTribe

Why settle for one wonderous discography when you can harmoniously weave two into a cohesive and engrossingly fun mashup? New Hampshire composer and deejay David Begun has been churning out projects at a breakneck pace recently, but his crown jewel [so far] reimaged A Tribe Called Quest acapellas with Pharcyde instrumentals. A double dose of nostalgia, Begun combined both group's best vibes into something way too natural to not be somehow original - a supreme credit to the remixing maestro. Despite touring together in 1994 and becoming friends, the two groups never officially worked on a track. Luckily, this project reached back to capture the playful, jazzy and outright funky exuberance of Ali, Phife, Tip, Bo**ie, Fat Lip, Imani and Slimkid. In other words, it was the People's Midnight Ride to the Bizarre Low End Cabin. No need for a deep breakdown of two sets of songs many heads already know and love, just enjoy them together.

23/12/2021

It's time! Let's start relieving a FOOLish Top Ten Hip-Hop Albums of 2021 list. Tipping it off at #10...

Mega Ran's Live '95
Occupying the coordinates on the Venn diagram where basketball, video games, comic books and pro wrestling meet in musical harmony is Mega Ran's calling card and scouting report. Mirroring a veteran sixth man known for instant offense, the versatile emcee, deejay, producer and author wasn't shy about stuffing the stat sheet with loaded verses on 'Live '95'. Maximizing his minutes [on his 11th solo album!], the former classroom teacher strongly chronicled the vital, decade-long relationship where Hip-Hop and hoops fully intertwined.

With a majority of the 14 tracks handled by DJ DN³, the production playbook flipped through some of the best elements that made 1990s Hip-Hop so influential: a well-executed fast break that occasionally flowed smoothly into a triangle offense. Mega Ran charmingly directed traffic from the point with a witty point atop a moving plate of accentuating beats while a lineup of unexpected guests (both rappers and former NBA all-stars) filled the lanes and finished at the rim each time.

But the glue that held this team together was Ran's storytelling; it could inspire any halftime lockeroom to bring home a hard fought W. Uplifting, autobiographical timestamping is one of his hallmarks, but on 'Live '95' especially, the Philly native's storybook is on full display.

05/12/2021

Especially good audio on this week's KRBX, Radio Boise - 89.9/93.5 FM show with jams from Tyler, the Creator, Aesop Rock & Blockhead, iLLism, Marlon Craft, Heanodic, Saba, Rejjie Snow, All Star Opera and more!

https://www.mixcloud.com/ForcesOfObviousLuck/2021-12-02-forces-of-obvious-luck-krbx-radio-boise-267/

December 2, 2021 edition of Forces Of Obvious Luck - live from KRBX Radio Boise. Tyler, the Creator, Aesop Rock, iLLism, Ric Wilson, Heanodic, Saba, Rejjie Snow and more! Tune in every Thursday from 9:00 - 11:00 PM MT live worldwide at https://radioboise.org. Tracklisting is below in comments.

01/12/2021

As we prepare to push submit on 2021's chart, let's review the last four years (2017-2020) of Forces Of Obvious Luck's annual top ten albums, by the numbers:

*40 releases
*32 LPs, 7 EPs, 1 single
*16 self-released, 11 put out on small indie labels
*13 duos, 3 groups, 22 solo acts, 2 bands
*4 artists made multiple appearances
*18 states (+ DC) and 6 countries represented

18/11/2021

Tomorrow night at 9 PM MT on KRBX, Radio Boise - 89.9/93.5 FM, we go deep cover with Hip-Hop Soul cover song by Childish Gambino, Joey Bada$$, Jazze Belle, Phonte, Cameron Calloway, The Roots and more! Come listen! radioboise.org/listen

13/10/2021

Tomorrow night from 9 - 11 PM MT, tune into KRBX, Radio Boise - 89.9/93.5 FM for a radical Radiothon dive into the history and songs from the women who shaped the powerfully positive and soulful sounds of Hip-Hop!

02/10/2021

15/08/2021

Zoom in and zone out on a Sunday to the soulful Hip-Hop sounds of Homeboy Sandman, Sidewalk Chalk, The Hue, Mary J. Blige, Saba, Wiki, CunninLynguists, Crooklyn Dodgers and more: https://www.mixcloud.com/ForcesOfObviousLuck/2021-07-22-forces-of-obvious-luck-krbx-radio-boise-248/
🎶🎷📻

July 22, 2021 edition of Forces Of Obvious Luck - live from KRBX Radio Boise. Zoom in and zone out to Homeboy Sandman, Sidewalk Chalk, The Hue, Mary J. Blige, Saba, Wiki, CunninLynguists and more. Tune in every Thursday from 9:00 - 11:00 PM MT live worldwide at https://radioboise.org. Tracklisting i...

01/07/2021

Tonight's show (9 - 11 PM MDT on KRBX, Radio Boise - 89.9/93.5 FM) will be extra special as we celebrate the remarkable life and art of Blackalicious' The Gift of Gab with "music that'll bump for a thousand years"!

A true and humble Hip-Hop superhero, Gab's spirit will continue to be a musical gift forever.

28/05/2021

Take a look around! Across 238 live KRBX, Radio Boise - 89.9/93.5 FM broadcasts since January 2017, here are our top 11 most played artists:

Open Mike Eagle
Amerigo Gazaway
Dessa
Lyrics Born
Atmosphere
People Under The Stairs
Sidewalk Chalk
Janelle Monáe
Heath McNease Official
Solillaquists of Sound
K-OS

06/05/2021

A few weeks ago, KRBX, Radio Boise - 89.9/93.5 FM celebrated ten years on terrestrial radio! Forces Of Obvious Luck got in on the fun with fresh Hip-Hop from Maimouna Youssef, David Begun, dj honda, Jurassic 5, Abstract Rude, Marques Martin, Reel People and more people-powered voices!

Listen back + enjoy the vibes:
https://www.mixcloud.com/ForcesOfObviousLuck/2021-04-22-forces-of-obvious-luck-krbx-radio-boise-235/

April 22, 2021 edition of Forces Of Obvious Luck - live from KRBX Radio Boise. Celebrating ten years of terrestrial radio on KRBX with Mumu Fresh, David Begun, DJ Honda, Jurassic 5, Abstract Rude, Anderson .Paak, Reel People and more people-powered voices! Tune in every Thursday from 9:00 - 11:00 PM...